for her family, so he should respect me for speaking my mind and defending my own family. That’s why I didn’t bite my tongue and asked the next question.
“Why don’t I believe you?”
“You don’t have to believe me, but that don’t make it untrue,” he said pointedly. His gaze cut to the back of the plane to where Rocco disappeared and he continued, “You care about him.”
It wasn’t a question, but rather an observation, one I wasn’t sure how to respond to so I remained silent. Rocco was on my shit list at the moment, but for all the times I hated him, I loved him more. I don’t know if that makes me a fool or what because after he the way he pushed me aside, I’m almost certain nothing will ever come of it.
I’m fully aware of how that sounds. I mean, any sane person would consider that a blessing after witnessing what I did.
“I know about Mitch and what Rocco did to make your problem go away and I warned him to cut ties with you,” Victor revealed. “I told him you were too young and too naïve. That you wouldn’t last in his world.”
I stared at him blankly, digesting his words, trying to decide how I felt by the lack of confidence and if there was any merit to it. I was young, yes, but I’m not naive. I’ll never lie to myself about who they are and what they do. Do I condone it? Not exactly, but I accept it. What choice do I have? Joaquin is my family and Rocco…well, I don’t know what he is.
I swallow and focus my attention back to Victor.
“Rocco doesn’t want me. You heard him yourself, I’m an annoyance.”
“You’re not naïve, you’re just blind. His life is about to change dramatically, something I’m sure he hasn’t shared with you. Am I right?”
Considering I had no idea what he was talking, I shook my head.
“He’s a loose cannon and without your brother in his ear, he’s going to need someone to reign him in when the pressure becomes all too consuming. Someone to ground him and remind him that he’s only human. Someone who isn’t afraid to tell him when he’s wrong. Someone who will remind him of who he is outside the underworld.”
I still wasn’t completely grasping what he was saying or how it pertained to me. Surely, he didn’t think I was someone with any hold on his nephew. Rocco wouldn’t listen to me if I were the only person on the planet.
“What are you saying?” I asked.
“I’m saying you remind me of my Grace,” he reiterated.
Grace grounded him.
Those words are still ringing in my ears, even now after the plane has landed and we’ve parted ways with Victor.
Could I be that for Rocco? Could I remind him of who he was outside the mob? Would he even let me?
“It’s the second building on the left,” Rocco says, pulling me away from my thoughts.
I divert my attention out the window of the sedan, realizing we’re turning onto my block. The driver slows the car in front of my mom’s house, and I send a silent prayer up to God that my mom has left for the restaurant already. I’m not in the mood to hear her go on about Rocco or give me the third degree on why I’m home a day earlier than planned.
My head is spinning and I need a little time before I start lying through my teeth.
“I know I don’t have to say this, but I’m going to say it anyway,” Rocco starts, drawing my attention to him. “Violet, whatever you saw, it stays here. You don’t go running your mouth.”
“Right, because I’m just itching to tell everyone I took cover under a table and saw a woman die before my eyes.”
“I’m serious,” he exclaims.
I sigh exasperatedly, throwing my hands up.
“C’mon, Rocco, who the fuck am I going to tell?” I angrily sneer.
“I’m just saying, it’s a lot to keep bottled in. You might be numb to it now, but you were a mess afterward and that shit doesn’t just disappear. It’s going to fucking haunt you and when it does, I want you to call me.”
I’m sure he’s right. I won’t forget what happened in Miami anytime soon and whenever I can’t reach him or Joaquin, I’ll be transcended back to last night. I’ll fear the worst and wish crime never found their lives. But what happened can never consume me because the